Utility derrick



R. KERSHAW UTILITY DERRIcx Dec. 14, 1954 Filed Feb. 12, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 5 N @A Nh um. mm. R. msm 1 V Mr A .A w V QJ Sv Nq n# uw. mw .vv MN] M! *unl u... iff V mw mw ZZL/Za ,afro/Ways Dec. 14, 1954 UTILITY DERRICK- Filed Feb. 12, 1951 R1 KERSHAW 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/ ai Dec. 14, 1954 R. KERSHAW 2,696,917

UTILITY DERRICK Filed Feb. l2. 1.951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f7/ n ,Y ffm:

,wrak/vars United4 States Patent() UTILITY DERRICK Royce Kershaw, Montgomery, Ala.

Application February 12, 1951, SerilfNo. 210,489

21Claimsz. (Cl: 2112'65) This; invention: relates; to a utilityderrick and has for.v anobject the provision. of afderrick which: shall be particularly adaptedi for; use on` railroads in thehandling of: variousmachines and materials usedl in construction andi repaii:l work.

Another object; of my invention! is to prov-ide a rail derrick; having.r a1 supporting.l vehicle whichI is of triangulanshape; as.viewed in plan therebyy providing a vehiclewhich is exceptionally light yet strong in construct tionz and: one adapted' for quick and easy removal from' the: track.

A..furthenobject. of. my invention is to provide: a rail' derricko the character: designated which shall be= adapted.forquickand easydismantling anderection for operationzatteither side ofthe. railroadl track with the boom thereof: extending. in: any4 desired' direction.

A'. still furtherfobjectJ of my invention is to provide a` ing position onzav railroadl track, with certain partsvbrokeniaway. andinsection for: the sake of clarity;

Eig..2'.is1a side elevationalview showing the derrickl ready' for operation;

Fig... 3.; isa plan view, showing the derrick assembled witltthe. boom over theopposite side of the: railroad track from` that; shown in Fig. 1.'. and with the boom extending in'thesame direction as shown in Fig. 1; y

lig.=.4is-an'y enlarged detail-view taken along the line IIT-IV of Fig..2;

EigLSfisaside elevational view showing my improved grapplef. for: anchoring the vehicle to the rails with the "t grapple-1inl raised Lposition;

Eig..6 isia sectional view taken along the line VI--VIP of. Fig; 5`,.the grapple being shown in raised position in full: linesf and ini clamping'position in dotted lines; and;

Eig;.7 isfa sectional viewtaken along the line VIL-VII oifFig-.Iy 6.

Referring nowh to thedrawing for abetter understand-r ing of my invention I show a vehicle triangular in shape as viewed! in plan, comprising` horizontally extending frame members-; 11 andv 12 which may be made of tubular steel, channels or the like. The frame member 10 extends in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axisofthe frame member 11. Also,- the frame. member 10 is substantially equal in length to the frame member 11. Secured tothe frame member 10 atzthe end thereof adjacent the frame member 11 is the lower end ofv a vertically. extending mast 13. Mounted oruoppositel sidesu of the mast 13 adjacent the lower end." thereof? and extendingoutwardly therefrom ina direction normal tothe longitudinal axis of the frame mer-nber llll'are clevises-14- and 16. The end of the frame member 11 adjacent the clevis 14 is preferably flattened or pinched to form a vertically extending ear or lug 17. of-a size to t within the jaws of the clevis i4; An..openingis-.provided in the lug1f7 to receive a'bolt 18," thereby dtacliably securing the frame member 11 to the clevis 14.

Mounted adjacent the end of the frame member 10 opposite the mast 13 are clevises 19 and 21, angularly disposed to each other and opening toward the mast end of frame member 10. Mounted adjacent the end 2. of the frame member 11', opposite the` flattened end 17 thereof areangularly disposed, inwardly opening clevises 22 and 23; The frame member 12,` forming the hypotenuse of the triangular frame, extends betweenv and isy detachably secured to the clevises 19and 22. rFhe ends of the frame'member 12 arerattened to'form vertically extending' lugs 244 and 26` having openings. therein for' receiving bolts 27 and 2S. The clevis membersf16; 21: ald 23 are usedl for' a purpose to be describedherein.-y a ter.

Secured beneath the-mast 13 andthe adjacent end o the frame'member 10' is a box-shaped wheell housing,29`-

having. an open bottom; Rotatably mounted'- in.l the housing 29V on a transversely disposed axle 315 is a double anged track-engagingiwheel 32'. Mounted beneath thel end of the frame member 10 opposite the mast 13'isaI box-shaped wheel housing 33 similar in all respects'. to the. housing 29. on a transversely disposed axle 34 is another double tlanged, track-engagingwheel 36. Mounted-beneath the end of the frame member 11, adjacent the clevis members-22 and 23 isa box-shaped wheel housing 37. simiL lar to the housings 29 and 332 Rotatably'k mounted in' thebox housingf 37 on a transversely disposed axle'333.

is' a track-engaging wheel 39 which may be double or singlek llanged.`

Secured to the mast 13 adjacent the topthereof is the-upper endof a downwardly extending` 'brace 41. The lower end of therbracey 41? is secured tothe top of the housing 33. Secured' tothe mast I3v adjacentf the top`I thereof areoppositely disposed clevis members 42- and 43* which extendy in a direction parallel to the frame member 11i Detaehably connected to the clevis 42 is thefupper end; of a.downwardlyextending'brace'44. 'ihe'y lower' end` of the brace Mis xedly. secured to thertop of the housing 37.

The derrick structure associated with the vehicle comprises a bracket 46 secured to the mast 13: adjacenttlie` lower end thereof. Pivotally mounted on the: bracket 46 is the.' lower end of a boomA 47 which is removably securedin place by. means of apivot pin dit. The-outer: end of the` boom 47' is provided' with a pulleyv 49 over which passesl a cable or rope Sl. The inner end of' the cableSl isseeured. toa winch SZcarried by tbeboomvan which may be operated by hand or any other suitable source of power. The boom 4'?vr is stabilized by aarfshaped/ guy rod 53 havingits legs detachably connected to brackets. 54fon the boom and'its. inner end connected to the top` ofthe mast by meansof a clevis and pin-connection 56. It will be seen that the boomdl' is capable' of moving in an arc upon' the vertically extending. mast 13, and that: by operating the winch 52.-loads connectedv to a hook block 55 in the bight of the cable mayl be readily lifted.

The vehicle is anchored to the rails 57 andi 53; by means of my improved grapple 59 to. be describedvhereinafter.y Two grapples' are provided, one being mounted on the housing33 and the other being mountedr on'the housing 37,.thus anchoring the ends of the frame merry bers 10 and 11 opposite the mast 13 to the rails 5'7 and 58; respectively, ofthe railroad track.

In Fig. l of the drawing I show the boom 47 positioned over the rail 57. IfV it is desired to position the boom 47 over the oppositerail 58 of the track andhave the boom extend ina direction opposite to that shown in. Fig. l, the vehicle is merely turned around and an choredf. into position.. by the grapples 59. However, if it is desiredto position the boom'over track 57 but have it extend in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 1 or toposition the boom over track 58 and have it extend in th'esame direction as shown in Fig. l, the vehicle: is dismantled and erected in the'manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. For example7 to position the boom over therail 58 as shown in Fig. 3 the frame member l2 is disconnectedfromthe'clevises'.19 and 22; The frame member 11 is disconnected from the clevis 1d and the brace 44 is disconnected from the clevis 42. The frame member 10 is placed over the rail 58, as shown, and the frame member 11 is turned around so that the vertical attened end 17 thereof lits in the clevis. The frame member 12 is then secured to the clevises 21 and 23 and Patented Dec. 14, 1954 Rotatably mounted in the housing 3.3"

the upper end of brace 44 is secured to the clevis 43. It will be noted that to position the boom 47 over the rail 57 in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 1, the frame member is turned around on the rail 57. The vertically extending portion 17 of the frame member 11 is then secured to clevis 16, the upper end of the brace 44 is secured to clevis 43 and the frame member 12 is secured to the clevises 21 and 23. i.

The grapple assembly preferably comprises a stationary rod 61 secured to the top of the box-shaped housing 33 or 37, as the case may be, as by welding at 62. Slidably mounted on the rod 61 is a block 63 having a through opening 64 disposed near one end thereof. The upward movement of the block 63 is restricted by means of a limit pin 65. Laterally extending, spaced slots or grooves 66 and 67 are provided in the lower portion of the block 63 on the side thereof opposite the opening 64. Pivotal- 1y mounted in the slots 66 and 67 on a common pin 68 are the upper ends of links 69 and 71. Positioned between and pivotally connected to the lower ends of the links 69 and 71 by means of pins 72 are the upper ends of rail clamping or gripping arms 73 and 74, respectively. The upper ends 76 of the arms 73 and 74 are crossed as indicated and the opposite ends are provided with jaws 77 and 78. The gripping arms 73 and 74 are pivoted at the point of crossing by means of a bolt 79 having a castellated nut 81 and a cotter pin 82. The bolt 79 is secured to the box housing member at a point adjacent the lower end of the rod 61.

Secured to and extending upwardly from the sides of the block 63 adjacent the opening 64 are upstanding side straps 83 and 84. Mounted at the upper end of the straps 83 and 84 is a U-shaped handle 86 having a cross rod 87 for raising and lowering the block 63.

Mounted on the block 63, by means of a screw 88 adjacent one end thereof and between the straps 83 and 84, is a spring steel plate 89. T he plate 89 has a hole therein of a size to freely pass the rod 61 when the plate is in a position normal to the axis of the rod 61 and for the walls thereof to bind about the rod 61 when the walls of the opening are out of 90 relation with respect to the axis of the rod 61.

The end of the plate 89 opposite the screw 88 is biased upwardly by means of a tension spring 91 connected thereto and to the side strap 84 as at 92 by any suitable means such as a cotter pin 93. Extending downwardly through an opening 95 in the U-shaped handle and through a suitable bearing 94 secured to the handle in axial alignment with the opening is a thumb actuated wardly extending end of the plate 89, thus permitting the plate 89 to be depressed at will toward a position normal to the axis of the rod 61. While I have shown a spring steel plate 89 secured to the block 63, it will be apparent that a plate made of materials other than spring steel may be used by hingedly connecting the plate to the block 63.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved grapple will be readily understood. When the vehicle is not in position for using the derrick, such as when moving from place to place, the grapple arms 73 and 74 are moved to the raised or open position as shown in solid lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings. When the vehicle is in position for operation, the thumb actuated pin 96 is pressed down thus moving the plate 89 down to a position normal to the rod 61. The handle 86 is then raised, thereby moving the block 63 up and moving the gripping arms 73 and 74 to the lowered or clamping position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 6. It will be noted that upon release of the pin 96 the spring 91 moves the plate 89 to a position out of 90 relation with respect to the rod 61 thereby locking the grapple assembly in closed position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a derrick which is very simple of construction and operation and economical of manufacture. By employing a triangular shaped frame for the derrick I have greatly reduced the Weight thereof, thus adapting it for quick and easy erection and removal from the railroad track.

pin 96. The lower end of the pin 96 contacts the up- Also, by constructing a derrick which is easily dismantled and erected with the boom extending in any desired direction, I have provided an-extremely versatile derrick which may be set up in desired positions and operated by unskilled labor.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a derrick for use on a railroad track, a frame structure in the shape of a right triangle as viewed in plan comprising a base section overlying a rail of the track and parallel thereto, track engaging wheels rotatably mounted in tandem adjacent each end of the base section, a vertically extending mast mounted at one end of said base section, pairs of oppositely disposed clevises adjacent the upper and lower ends of the mast lying in a vertical plane normal to said base section, a side section detachably secured at one end to one of said clevises adjacent the lower end of said mast, a track engaging wheel at the other end of said side section mounted for rotation in a vertical plane parallel to said base section, sets of angularly disposed horizontally extending clevises adjacent the ends of said base and side sections opposite said mast, a diagonal section extending between and detachably secured to selected ones of the clevises on said base and side sections, a brace secured to the mast adjacent the top thereof and extending downwardly and secured to the end of said base section opposite the mast, a brace fxedly secured to the end of said side section opposite the mast and detachably secured to a selected one of the clevises at the upper end of the mast, a boom pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of the mast, a guy rod pivotally connected to the upper end of the mast and secured to the boom adjacent the upper end thereof, and means for detachably anchoring the ends of said base and s1de sections opposite the mast to the railroad track.

2. In a derrick for use on a railroad track, a frame structure in the shape of a right triangle as viewed in plan comprising a base section, a vertically extending mast mounted at one end of the base section, a side section detachably secured at one end to the lower portion of said mast forming with said base section an included angle of approximately a diagonal section extending between and detachably connected to said base and side sections adjacent the ends thereof opposite said mast, a boom pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of the mast, a guy rod pivotally connected to the upper end of the mast and secured to the boom adjacent the upper end thereof, a box-shaped housing open at the bottom thereof mounted beneath each corner of said triangular shaped structure, axles transversely disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base section mounted in the said housings, a track engaging wheel rotatably mounted on each of said axles, and means detachably anchoring the corners of the frame adjacent the ends of said diagonal member to the railroad track.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS lumber Name Date 337,462 Valentine Mar. 8, 1886 382,307 Huth May 8, 1888 783,463 Reed Feb. 28, 1905 806,511 Arnold Dec. 5, 1905 1,003,072 Taylor Sept. 12, 1911 1,551,132 Butler Aug. 25, 1925 1,568,975 Hartwell Ian. 12, 1926 2,053,179 Brown Sept. 1, 1936 2,478,535 Kershaw Aug. 9, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 541,475 Great Britain Nov. 27, 1941 

